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bazilisek

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This is a list of games available on Steam that do not use the Steamworks CEG component, making them effectively DRM-free once installed. This means that you can copy the game folder anywhere you want and launch the .exe directly without being online or having Steam running.

List of DOSBox games on SteamAll DOSBox games on Steam, including those not on this list, are DRM-free. Commander Keen series Deathkings of the Dark Citadel Doom, Doom II, Master Levels and Final Doom Heretic Hexen King's Quest and Space Quest Collections (the launcher uses CEG, the individual games are DOSBoxed) Star Wars: Dark Forces X-COM: UFO Defense, Terror from the Deep and Apocalypse Wolfenstein 3D and Spear of Destiny Worms

A question mark means the game is rumoured to be DRM-free, but confirmation is needed.Asterisks mark games that are Steam exclusives, i.e. only available from Steam; buying them elsewhere only nets you a Steam key.Note that games with any third party DRM are disqualified from this list, even if they do not actually use CEG (such as C&C4 or Batman:AA).

Big thanks to everyone who contributed to this list, particularly Skunk who provided most of the early data, iainmet and amok, our correspondent extraordinaire. This is a community-built list and very much a work in progress, so all of your input is most welcome!

If anyone wants to help by checking Steam games, first look at this pastebin of games we have already tested so you don't have to waste your time.

Post edited November 06, 2012 by bazilisek

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Q: But Steam is DRM! A: That's not a question. And it isn't technically true. Steam's DRM solution (called "CEG" by Valve) is just one of many Steamworks components game developers may use, alongside achievements, cloud saving, the workshop, matchmaking network code etc.; just like with all the others, implementing it is not required to distribute a game on Steam. A game can use the other Steamworks features and still remain DRM-free.

Q: How do you determine if a game is DRM-free on Steam? A: Simple: install the game and launch it once (this step is important, because this finalises the installation). Shut down Steam and temporarily move all the files in the root Steam folder somewhere else. Locate game folder, locate the .exe, run it. Either you get an error message (or it does nothing at all), or the game just runs. If it just runs, it is DRM-free.

Q: Game X has a source port which makes it effectively DRM-free. A: True, but that isn't quite what this list is about. Obviously if you don't use the game executable at all, you are bypassing the CEG ("Custom Executable Generation") component completely. The idea is to determine whether the CEG component is actually present and active, which is something not advertised by Valve at all.

Post edited September 29, 2012 by bazilisek

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DCS Black Shark is also DRM free. I'd also hazard a guess Serious Sam The Random Encounter and Super Crate Box are too.

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"This means that you can copy the game folder anywhere you want and launch the .exe directly without being online or having Steam running. "

Second sentence in the OP

Edit: and +1 for this thread. Though I won't be contributing much.

Post edited September 17, 2012 by SimonG

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amok

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SimonG: "This means that you can copy the game folder anywhere you want and launch the .exe directly without being online or having Steam running. "

Second sentence in the OP

Yeah, but is it that offline mode steam option, or completely GOG style fully offline?

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Iain

Going Retro

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You can literally just run the exe file once installed and it will start the game without starting the Steam client.

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Oh, I'm pretty sure that Crusader Kings 2 is actually DRM-free. It definitely launched without going through Steam, though Steam was running (it usually is).

Post edited September 17, 2012 by johnki

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amok

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I also remember being able to run Fallout 3 without the steam client. Does this still apply? might check FNV later if it is still possible.

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Useful information, thank you for this. I'd assumed Steamworks meant DRM every time I saw it - good to know that's not how it works, albeit very irritating that they don't make it clear whether a game uses that component or not before you purchase it.

amok: I also remember being able to run Fallout 3 without the steam client. Does this still apply? might check FNV later if it is still possible.

I don't have Fallout 3 on Steam, but New Vegas has CEG.

Post edited September 17, 2012 by kljadfjhadf

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WHARRGARBLE RAGE

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gameon: Yeah, but is it that offline mode steam option, or completely GOG style fully offline?

"without [...] having Steam running", it says.

Steam's offline mode still requires running Steam, and so does not fill the above criteria.

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gameon: Yeah, but is it that offline mode steam option, or completely GOG style fully offline?

Miaghstir: "without [...] having Steam running", it says.

Steam's offline mode still requires running Steam, and so does not fill the above criteria.

Well i'll take your guys word for it. I'm just kind of skeptical because i find it hard to believe steam has games for sale that are truly drm free. I thought every game required the steam client to run.

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gameon: Well i'll take your guys word for it. I'm just kind of skeptical because i find it hard to believe steam has games for sale that are truly drm free. I thought every game required the steam client to run.

Afaik, they can't make every game use the Steamworks DRM. Developers are forced to use some part of the Steamworks API usually (well, most of them. DCS Black Shark doesn't even have the API's DLL in its folder) but it's generally only for a few features, and afaik, it's entirely up to the developers just how much DRM is included.

I actually don't think a full Steamworks interface exists for Game Maker, and yet Steam is selling Game Maker games. In fact, Super Crate Box is one of them (albeit that one is free).